–From Chattanooga Times Free Press–
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley County is expanding its extensive recycling program to include electronic equipment.

The county will begin accepting what it’s calling “e-scrap” at its Peerless Road recycling center during usual business hours. Everything from desktop computers, fax machines and keyboards to CD-ROMs, medical equipment and more will be accepted.
The county chose the Peerless Road site because it has a covered area, officials said.
The announcement was made Friday at the Cleveland/Bradley County Keep America Beautiful annual awards breakfast.
KAB Executive Director Joanne Maskew reviewed the group’s accomplishments in the past year, including its first electronic recycling event in December 2008.
Ms. Maskew said KAB recycled more than 106 tons of waste, which she called a “phenomenal figure.”

That included aluminum cans, newspapers, mixed paper, cardboard, glass tires, batteries, white goods, items from the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and electronics, she said.

She said she hopes the recycle numbers will double for next year.
“Let’s work with our local governments to see how we can expand or reinvent ways to get local citizens to think green and take action,” she said.

The county’s separate e-scrap recycle effort was announced on behalf of County Mayor D. Gary Davis.

See the full article here.

From– Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs, SWANA

On September 30, 2009, Senators Boxer and Kerry introduced their climate change legislation, S. 1733, The American Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. This bill includes a program devoted to state recycling programs, Section 154. This section requires EPA to establish a state recycling program and develop analyses and methodologies to optimize reductions of greenhouse gas emissions through recycling. This program provides that funds distributed by States under the Act to carry out recycling programs be allocated in minimum proportions among county and municipal programs, eligible recycling facilities, and eligible manufacturing facilities.

…The localities that qualify under the eligibility requirements set forth by the draft would receive grant monies to improve their programs.

Because of amount of funding potentially available, the program requirements are fairly strict, with the intent of making the biggest impact on the national recycling rate. To be eligible, the programs must have a solid waste management plan that includes education and outreach efforts. Localities also must collect at least five recyclable materials (designated within the program rules) and within three years of receiving the funding have a collection rate either higher than thirty percent OR a ten percent increase from where they started. Localities also must have a curbside collection program, a drop-off program and a materials recycling facility and these operations must show compliance with a quality, environmental, health and safety management system.

The money allocated to county or municipal programs is intended for:
• recycling related technology that
o reduces or avoids GHG emissions
o increases collection efficiency
o improves the quality of the material collected
• energy efficiency projects for transportation fleets and equipment used to collect and sort recyclables
• recycling program related expenses including
o education and job training
o approaches for assuring compliance with recycling requirements
o development or implementation of best practices for MSW reduction programs
• to ensure that materials intended for recycling are not disposed of during fluctuating markets

The funding for this program would come from the “State Programs for Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Adaptation” outlined in Section 211 of Title II - Program Allocations. This program is set up to distribute proceeds of emission allowances for implementation of projects, programs, or measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Ten percent of these funds are allocated towards funding coastal state economic protection programs. Fifty percent of the funding is reserved for transit grant programs.

State Recycling Programs would be one of six programs receiving the remaining forty percent of the funds. These other programs include: grants to fund water systems mitigation and adaptation partnerships; flood control and response; adverse impacts on agriculture and ranching activities; and programs addressing air pollution and air quality. States that receive this funding source are required to submit Climate Change Response Plan reports biannually.

The total amount of money available has not yet been established.

Attached are copies of the sections referenced.

Sincerely,
Shannon

Shannon Crawford
Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs
240-494-2241 - direct

SWANA - Solid Waste Association of North America
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 700
Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-800-GO SWANA

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I had a great time attending the Claiborne County Recycling Center Open House this month. The program has received funding for recycling equipment through the Tennessee Department of Conservation to pay for costs associated with initial equipment purchases. Having dedicated equipment and storage for recyclables allows the County to move forward on their waste reduction goals while saving money that other wise would be required for landfill tipping fees and waste hauling. Great Job, Claiborne!

Read the full article below:

–From The Claiborne County Progress, September 16th, 2009– Recycling expanded in Claiborne County
Ashley Collingsworth; Staff Writer Published: September 16, 2009

Claiborne County can now bail all of its recyclables thanks to a grant from TDEC. The county will no longer have to transport them outside of county to outside contractors. Cardboard, newspaper, plastic and magazines will all be bailed at the landfill and then stored until 20 tons have been accumulated. Once they reach 20 tons they will be sold to the highest bidder. The county also accepts oil, batteries, E-Waste and paint. These items can be dropped off at two convenient centers. Sunnyside on Highway 63 and Tazewell across from the Road Department will accept the items. There are plans in the future to expand to some smaller centers. If you are unsure as to where to deliver your recyclables, you can ask the center personnel and they will direct you to the location. The process of placing your recyclables in proper containers will cut down on labor costs.

Mike Russell, Director of Solid Waste, would like to than the County Commission for their cooperation and support in the extra funding to make this project possible. He would also thank County Mayor Joe Tyler Duncan, Ms. Erlinda McMeel, Director of Economic and Community Development, Ms. Kim Raia, CTAS and special thanks to Claiborne County Solid Waste Authority Board for working side by side with him in making this recycling project possible. For information on which center accepts your recyclables, you can call the landfill at 423-626-2080 or 423-851-1928.

Anyone out there have an East Tennessee solution for recycling shrink wrap? Also wondering about #4 Plastic Bags? Both are clean materials..
If you know about something, leave us a comment in the blog comment box or drop an email to Kim.Raia@tennessee.edu

TDEC recently announced 2010 Recycling Equipment Grants for local governments and qualifying non-profit organizations. Funds may be used to purchase equipment for new recycling programs, to improve existing operations, or to prepare recyclable materials for transport or sale.

Grant priority is given to applicants that employ developmentally disabled individuals, as defined in T.C.A. §33-1-101 and to applicants that want to start, extend, or modify a paint recycling and diversion program.

All other applicants will be scored and grants awarded based on the merits of the applications’ narratives.

All applications must be received, on or before the deadline of Friday, October 15, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. Applications received after this time will be returned without action.

For more information or to obtain applications, please call Ron White at (615) 532-4967 or visit the TDEC Web site at:
http://tn.gov/environment/swm/grants/regrant.shtml

–From The Leaf-Chronicle • August 30, 2009–

Bi-County Solid Waste made the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle this weekend.  A detailed article highlights the successes of the self-supporting solid waste authority. Recycling efforts produce around $500,000 a year in revenue and adds life to the authority’s landfill.  Director Reed is interviewed and cites cost savings and revenue generation.  Additionally, Reed says “estimated energy savings of 241,586 million BTUs and greenhouse gas reduction of 7,283 metric tons can be linked to Montgomery County’s recycling effort.”

This is equivalent to saving 6,070,941 gallons of gasoline or 124,383 barrels of oil, an amount equal to 9,795 fewer cars driven during the year.

See the full article here:
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090830/NEWS01/908300324&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Excerpt, Anne Paine • THE TENNESSEAN • August 9, 2009

About 13,000 pounds of leftover foodstuffs from the state prison facilities in Nashville are hauled each week to the now-closed, castle-shaped former prison off Centennial Boulevard.  The leftovers are mixed with wood chips and mounded in rows to decompose.  Instead of paying to have the waste buried in a landfill, the remains of the meals for about 2,300 inmates cook themselves into a rich soil additive that is spread on the prison’s 100-acre vegetable garden.

“Just with the Davidson County site alone, it saves us about $150,000 a year,” said Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner George Little.  The prison has savings from composting and recycling at prisons throughout the state, which officials estimate total $445,900 in savings and revenue.  In addition to conserving natural resources, the composting avoids creating a virulent greenhouse gas: methane.

Methane forms in landfills as vegetable and other organic materials ferment when shut away from the air. While the gas can be captured for use, it’s often burned off in Tennessee.  Much of the compostable food and yard waste — about 25 percent of the waste stream in Tennessee — ends up in landfills, to the longtime consternation of compost advocates.

See the link to the full article here:
Compost Article

Georgia is considering the development of several regional recycling hubs across the state to transfer single-stream recyclables to more distant processing facilities in a cost effective manner. The Georgia Department of Community Assistance (DCA) will provide support from the Georgia Solid Waste Trust fund to local governments for hauling, processing and handling equipment to concentrate recycling weights to minimize transfer costs and save energy. DCA anticipates a need for six hubs, located to maximize the population within 50 miles. Other siting criteria for hubs include access to major transportation corridors, proximity to existing mills and end-users, and a relationship to any existing regional collection hubs.

More information is available at

http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/environmentalmanagement/programs/downloads/GriffinHubPresentation_State%20Goals.pdf

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will conduct a public hearing on the draft language for the proposed waste reduction rule on September 1, 2009 on the 17th floor of the L & C Tower in Nashville.  The hearing will be from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.  It will also be broadcast via GoToMeeting in a Webinar format to allow citizens Internet accessibility to the proceedings.

The public comment period is active and will end September 30, 2009.  All comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on September 30th to be considered.

Additional information can be found at:  http://state.tn.us/environment/swm/wrpublic.shtml

You can register for the Webinar by following the link below.

http://state.tn.us/environment/swm/wrpublicweb.shtml

–Times Free Press, DUNLAP, Tennessee–

A $22,000 cardboard compactor is the latest improvement in Sequatchie County’s growing recycling program. The new compactor already has kept 1,600 pounds of cardboard out of the landfill since it was installed a couple of weeks ago at the Southend Recycling Center, County Executive Michael Hudson said. The center is next door to the John Griswold Recreational Complex. “We have one cardboard recycling container at the county’s site in the city (on Main Street). This adds an additional cardboard compactor for the county,” he said.  The county’s cost was reimbursed by a $22,000 grant through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, records show. Recycling means real savings in landfill costs, said County Commissioner David Cartwright, who serves a district in south Sequatchie County. “Garbage is nothing but cost,” he said. Sequatchie garbage goes to Marion County, which charges a per-ton fee, he said. The compactor generates a little revenue and keeps cardboard out of the landfill, he said. “That’s a plus.”

See the full link here:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/may/18/sequatchie-compactor-cuts-landfill-costs/?local